Wilderland

Posted on 03 Mar 2016 @ 1:23pm by Lieutenant JG Kezmar Tsakti Ph.D & Lieutenant JG Rael Psy.D.

1,645 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 7, Arboretum
Timeline: MD 25 - 0700 hrs

[ON]

Much to the chagrin of his roommate, Rael was a morning person. Though those around him may have noticed his less than Vulcan traits, he was still a Vulcan and thus remained unfailingly polite--he wasn't prone to upsetting the balance of others where he could help it. Which was how he ended up in the Galileo's arboretum at 7 in the morning. The counselor ambled along the beaten path, hands in the pockets of his slacks and a relaxed expression on his face.

It had been almost two weeks since Kezmar had arrived at Jupiter, and he had spent most of it onboard the ship, familiarizing himself with its layout and systems. His former posting as a researcher had left his sleep schedule erratic, Kezmar simply went to bed when he was tired and woke up when he wasn't. He had slept from 2-6 that particular morning, and opted to explore just a bit instead of waking his roommate.

Stalking into the arboretum, the teal-collared Selay first noticed another person in the room, a uniformed Vulcan. Oh, how excellent. Striding quietly past the man, Kezmar stiffly sat himself down on a small bench, not saying a word.

"Good morning," Rael greeted amicably.

Casting a withering gaze over to the man in standing a few feet away, Kezmar reluctantly replied "Ssssalutationsss." Social conduct demand he try to start some sort of conversation, so he grumblingly continued "What bringsss you here?"

"Finicky roommates," he murmured wryly. "And yourself?"

"I am up at thisss hour." Kezmar passed out the confusing, vague statement with ease, his gaze deliberately locked onto a shrub across the room to avoid eye contact with Rael.

He didn't seem bothered! "My name is Rael," he introduced with a bow of his head. The individual before him was Selay, and he had to admit he was remiss in Selay cultural protocols. Not knowing if they shook hands, he left his in his pockets.

Not looking up from his stare, Kezmar replied offhandedly "Lieutenant Junior Grade Tssakti." Flicking his gaze over to Rael for a single moment, he added "What do you do on thisss ship?"

Rael's body language conversely was relaxed and open. Languid, at ease. "I am a counselor," he answered simply. "And yourself?"

Kezmar's eyes held look of slight alarm as he heard the man say he was a counselor, muscles locking up a bit. What did he want with Kezmar? Yes, his psych eval was overdue but... "Assissstant Chief Ressearch Officer."

"Indeed," Rael smiled faintly. "You needn't worry, Lieutenant Tsakti. I am merely walking."

Taking a glance up, Kezmar sighed heavily. There was no time like the present. "Well, is it posssible get my psssychogical evaluation complete now, while you're here?"

"It is certainly possible," he nodded. "Do you mind if I join you?"

The teal collared officer reluctantly scooted over on the bench, leaving enough space for Rael to sit down. "No, I sssupposse not."

Rael sat, folding his hands in his lap. "Do you have any particular specialty?"

"Advanced Ssubsspace Mechanicsss, why do you ask?" Kezmar raised an eyebrow, an intrigued expression on his face. Most counselors he met with started off with silly questions about how he liked his job or how he was feeling. To begin with an occupational query was quite refreshing to him.

"I noted in your file that you possess a doctorate degree," Rael said with a smile. "Regrettably, I did not have the time to read through the particulars of your research. What did you complete your dissertation on?" he wondered, leaning forward a little.

Kezmar scratched his chin with a scaled hand, eyes lighting up with a dull yellow glow. He wasn't much of a conversationalist, but he certainly enjoyed talking about his studies. "I ssstudied the warp fieldss produced by warp enginess and ssspecifically fusion coilss, and how they deteriorate the integrity of sssubsspace itssself, occassionally ressssulting in ssubspace rifts. Esspecially in areass of space with high ssubspace inssstability, warp fieldss can be incredibly devassstating."

"Did you go into any detail on how that could be used in a practical setting?" Rael wondered.

Almost subconsciously, the Selay started to grin maliciously, as if he personally took pleasure in ripping the fabric of universe apart. "Obviousssly, the weaponization of warp fieldss would give the Federation an unparalleled advantage over our enemiesss. Entire ssolar syssstemss, wiped off the face of the galaxy into monstrouss riftss in ssspace. The lasst time anyone had that ssssort of power was back when the Son'a usssed issolytic burssst torpedoess..."

Rael listened, thoughtful. "That certainly does sound advantageous," he agreed.

Kezmar's thin, scaly lips dipped into a frown, sighing mournfully. He clenched a green fist in frustration, shaking his head. "Alasss, they were outlawed by the Sssecond Khitomer Accordss. But we in Sstarfleet R&D will create new weapons that will surpasssss isssolytic torpedoesss, mark my wordsss. And when we do, the Galaxy will tremble."

"That seems rather fascinating. I'd be very interested to read your dissertation in its entirety, Lieutenant Tsakti. Is that your primary area of expertise? Weapons development?"

Kezmar shook his head once more. He was beginning to warm to this counselor, just a little bit. "No, no, no. I am a physicissst, and a mathematician, my most specialized expertise being warp field mechanicsss. I do not develop the weaponss themssselvess, I simply discover and formulate mathematical and physsical principlesss, sso that othersss can. I do not dirty my handsss with engineering work."

"Indeed. I share your interest in mathematics," he offered with a small smile. He was Vulcan--that probably wasn't surprising. "I recently completed my own dissertation on the geometrical-physical properties of the telepathic mindscape. My knowledge of warp field mechanics is admittedly subpar, but I'd be much interested in learning more. Do you recommend any authors in particular? Aside from yourself, of course," he said, as if it were a given that he was going to stalk all of Kezmar's work.

Which he probably totally was.

"Hmm." Kezmar made a mental note to look into Rael's dissertation, the subject seemed quite intriguing if a bit out of his fields of expertise. Racking his brain for a few moments while thinking of other warp field scientists, Kezmar confidently responded "I'd ssuggest ssstarting with Doctor Serova of Hekaras II, sshe usssed... very unorthodox methodss to prove her theoriess on warp fieldsss. Quite the fassscinating woman." What he neglected to explicitly mention was that Serova killed herself to create a subspace rupture with a warp core breach, but Kezmar decided to let him find that tidbit of information out for himself.

It was exactly the kind of thing that piqued Rael's interest, actually! He would definitely have fun discovering it. "Indeed? I'll definitely look her up. Anyone else?"

"Otherwisssse, I'd recommend Doctor Richard Vassssbinder's sstudiesss of warp nacelle desssign and the effectsss of which, Doctor Leah Brahm'ss thesisss on Higher Order Warp Field Propulssion Applicationss, and Doctor Rick Sssternbach's manualss on warp field ssafety, as well as Captain Bill Peet'sss research into consssentrated warp fieldss."

His expression suggested that he was memorizing each name. "What started your interest in warp field mechanics?" he wondered thoughtfully. "It's a very specialized area of concentration, I'd venture. Is that something you've always been interested in or did it develop during your academic career?"

Kezmar shrugged, gaze shifting upwards a bit as he brought up old memories. It wasn't something he had really thought about in a long time. "I ssuppossse I've alwayss been interessted in quantum physicsss, but thiss ssspecific field was only made known to me during my graduate work at the Academy."

A bemused smile warmed up his usually stoic expression, sighing fondly. "And it.. It was love at firsst ssight."

"I can tell," Rael murmured gently. "Your passion for the work is very refreshing."

Kezmar nodded in return, relaxing his shoulders a bit. "If I wasssn't passssionate about my work, it'd be hard to continue working."

"Fortunately, the facilities aboard the Galileo should facilitate your work with little issue--although I've been informed they're quite small in comparison to a larger ship such as a Galaxy-class."

"More or lesssss, I couldn't ssay. I've never worked on a Galaxssy classss, or any other ssship for that matter."

"They're a little overrated," Rael confessed with a smile.

"Mmm, I sssuppossse. I don't have much interessst in shipboard posstings mysself, but oh well."

"Where would you prefer to be posted?"

Kezmar shrugged, shoulders sagging wearily. "It'sssss... Not that I don't like it here, it'ssss ssssimply that I didn't expect to be here."

"Indeed." Rael touched his chest with his fingertips. "I apologize--that must be quite an upheaval. Shipboard and planetside life differ quite significantly--it's one of the reasons I like it in here." He gestured to the arboretum as a whole. "Where do you call home?"

"Hrmmmm..." Kezmar bit his lower lip, frowning as he recollected where he had lived lately. At the Academy, he lived in a small house right outside San Francisco, but he sold it two years ago to live at Daystrom, where he received a small, sparsely furnished set of quarters to live in. But now that he had transferred... "Deck Four."

That won him another smile. "Deck four," he murmured, eyes crinkling. "Then I shall simply welcome you aboard, Lieutenant Tsakti. To your new home."

Kezmar gave Rael a small, legitimately warm smile in return. "Why thank you, I do apprecsssiate the sssentiment."

He withdrew a PADD of his own, and tapped something in. "I do believe you are cleared for duty. Please, take care." He rose, and with a small bow of his head, he left the Selay scientist in peace.

[OFF]

Lieutenant JG Rael
Assistant Chief Counselor
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Kezmar Tsakti
Assistant Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

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